Libs take charge in SA parliament

A new look South Australian parliament has resumed after the March election with the Liberals taking charge for the first time in 16 years.

South Australia Premier Steven Marshall during his first address.

Premier Steven Marshall faces his first question time as leader of the SA government on Wednesday. (AAP)

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has vowed to deliver on all 300 promises the Liberals made leading into the state election, as his government took charge of the state's 54th parliament.

On the first sitting day since the March poll, the premier said those commitments embraced three key themes - creating more jobs, lowering costs for businesses and consumers and improving government services.

"We want to be a good government that delivers on every single commitment we made to the people of South Australia," the new premier told parliament on Thursday.

"The people of South Australia wanted change, they voted for change, they wanted to hit the reset button."

But after a convivial start to proceedings - when Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas congratulated the premier on his victory and Mr Marshall returned the compliment - it took just 15 minutes for the decorum to be destroyed.

Rowdy exchanges erupted over the government's plan to further deregulate shop trading hours in Adelaide, a policy Mr Marshall touted as both good for business and good for job seekers.

"In every other jurisdiction where this has been implemented, this has created jobs," he said.

"Surely that is the number one thing that we should be doing for the young people in South Australia."

Officially opening the parliament on Thursday, Governor Hieu Van Le said the new government would pursue its election promises as an economic imperative and as a major social responsibility.

"My government's strong view is that its economic policies must be set to support growth in the private sector because our state's history shows that this is what works best for South Australia," the governor said.

"Equally, private business should not look to taxpayers for financial support before making investment and growth decisions.

"My government does not intend to be a bank or part of private sector business decisions."

Also on Thursday, Liberal Vincent Tarzia was officially installed as the 35th and youngest speaker of the House of Assembly, just reward after seeing off the challenge from high-profile former senator Nick Xenophon in his seat of Hartley.

The first sitting of the new parliament brings an end to 16 years of Labor rule in SA with the Liberals controlling 25 seats in the 47-seat lower house.

However, the new government will still need support from Labor or the crossbenches for any reforms to pass in the upper house.


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Source: AAP


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